Digital image signal processing method, medium for recording the method, and digital image signal processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided is a digital image signal processing method, a recording medium for recording the method, and a digital image signal processing apparatus, in which a storage area of a memory may be efficiently used and an image desired by a user can be stored even when the storage area of the memory is insufficient. According to the present invention, a scene of an image may be recognized and a resolution and an image quality may be modified according to the recognized scene, thereby efficiently using the storage area of the memory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0072121, filed on Aug. 5, 2009, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a digital image signal processingmethod for compressing an image and storing the same in a memory, arecording medium for recording the method, and a digital image signalprocessing apparatus.

A digital image processing apparatus, such as a digital camera, includesa memory in which an image can be compressed and stored. The memory hasa limited capacity and thus cannot limitlessly store images.Accordingly, the user needs to check the capacity of the memoryfrequently to selectively delete images or move the images to anotherdigital image processing apparatus.

However, when the user cannot check the capacity of the memory andcannot delete the previously stored images, or if a size of an image tobe photographed and stored is more than the capacity of the memory,problems occur in storing an additionally photographed image due to thelimited capacity of the memory.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a digital image signal processing methodin which a storage space of a memory can be efficiently used, arecording medium for recording the method, and a digital image signalprocessing apparatus.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided adigital image signal processing method comprising: recognizing, with aprocessor, a scene of an image; determining, with the processor, aresolution and an image quality corresponding to the recognized scene;and compressing the image with the determined resolution and thedetermined image quality.

The method may further comprise: measuring a storage area of a memory;and comparing the storage area of the memory with a reference, whereinif the storage area of the memory is smaller than the reference, aresolution and an image quality corresponding to the recognized sceneare determined.

The image may be obtained by restoring an image file stored in thememory.

The image may be an image input to an imaging device according to aphotographing signal.

The method may further comprise generating a database includingresolutions and image qualities according to scenes.

The database may be generated according to an input of a user.

The determining of a resolution and an image quality corresponding tothe recognized scene may comprise: deducing a priority of the resolutionand a priority of the image quality corresponding to the recognizedscene; and determining a resolution and an image quality correspondingto the deduced priority of the resolution and the deduced priority ofthe image quality.

The method may further comprise, if compressing the image with thedetermined resolution and the determined image quality: calculating anavailable number of images that can be stored in the storage area of thememory; and displaying the available number of images.

The method may further comprise, if compressing the image with thedetermined resolution and the determined image quality: calculating anavailable number of images that can be stored in the storage area of thememory in which the images can be stored; displaying the availablenumber of images; determining whether to compress the image; if theimage is not to be compressed, adjusting at least one of the groupconsisting of the priority of the resolution and the priority of theimage quality to a next priority; and deducing a resolution and an imagequality corresponding to the adjusted priority of the resolution or theimage quality.

The scene may be one selected from the group consisting of a frame guidescene, a night view scene, a portrait scene, a landscape scene, a macroscene, and a white scene.

A resolution of the landscape scene may be greater than a resolution ofthe portrait scene.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer readable recording medium having embodied thereon a programfor executing the above-described method.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda digital image signal processing apparatus comprising: a scenerecognition unit for recognizing a scene of an image; a databaseincluding resolutions and image qualities according to scenes; aresolution and image quality determining unit for determining aresolution and an image quality corresponding to the recognized scene bydeducing from the database; a scaler for resizing the image to have thedetermined resolution; and a compression unit for compressing the imageto have the determined image quality.

The scaler may comprise a plurality of scalers for resizing the imagewith different sizes, and the compressing unit may comprise a pluralityof compression units that apply different compression rates to the imageso as to have different image qualities.

The digital image signal processing apparatus may further comprise: amemory for storing an image file including the image; a measuring unitfor measuring a storage area of the memory; a comparing unit forcomparing the storage area of the memory with a reference; and a controlunit for controlling such that if the storage area of the memory issmaller than the reference, the resolution and image quality determiningunit determines a resolution and an image quality of the image.

The digital image signal processing apparatus may further comprise: amemory for storing an image file including the image; and a restoringunit for restoring the image file to deduce the image.

The digital image signal processing apparatus may further comprise animaging device for inputting the image.

The database may comprise a first database including priorities ofresolutions and image qualities according to scenes and a seconddatabase including resolutions corresponding to the priorities of theresolutions and image qualities corresponding to priorities of the imagequalities, and the resolution and image quality determining unit maydeduce from the first database the priorities of the resolutions and thepriorities of the image qualities according to scenes, and from thesecond database the resolutions according to the priorities of theresolutions and the image qualities according to the priorities of theimage qualities.

The digital image signal processing apparatus may further comprise, whencompressing the image with the determined resolution and the determinedimage quality: a calculation unit that calculates an available number ofimages that can be stored in a remaining storage area of a memory; adisplay unit that displays the available number of images; a determiningunit that determines whether to compress the image; and an adjustingunit that adjusts at least one of the group consisting of the priorityof the resolution and the priority of the image quality to a nextbackground priority, if the image is not to be compressed, wherein theresolution and image quality determining unit deduces a resolution andan image quality corresponding to the adjusted priority of theresolution or the image quality.

The database may comprise a resolution of a landscape scene that isgreater than a resolution of a portrait scene.

Accordingly, by adjusting a resolution or an image quality according toa recognized scene of an image, desired images may be stored and thelimited storage space of a memory can be efficiently used while storinga desired image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital image signal processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a digitalsignal processor (DSP) of the digital image signal processing apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of a database of the digital signalprocessor illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a DSP of the digital image signalprocessing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of a first database of the DSP ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of a second database of the DSP ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a digital image signal processingmethod according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a digital image signal processingmethod according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a digital image signal processingmethod according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a pictorial schematic view of an example of displaying anavailable number of images that can be stored in a storage area of amemory of the digital image signal processing method of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a pictorial schematic view of another example of displaying astorage capacity (number of images) in a storage area of a memory of thedigital image signal processing method of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A digital image signal processing apparatus according to an embodimentof the present invention is described in detail with reference to theattached drawings. A digital camera is described as an example of thedigital image signal processing apparatus. However, the digital imagesignal processing apparatus is not limited to the digital camera, andthe digital image signal apparatus may also be a mobile phone having thefunctions of the digital camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA), aportable multimedia player (PMP), TV, a digital frame, etc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital image signal processingapparatus, here a digital camera, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the digital camera includes an optical unit 10through which an optical signal is transmitted from a subject, anoptical driving unit 11 for driving the optical unit 10, an imagingdevice 20 for converting the optical signal input through the opticalunit 10 into an electrical signal, and an analog/digital (AD) converter30 for converting the electrical signal with respect to one frame imagetransmitted from the imaging device 20 into a digital signal. Also, thedigital camera includes a timing generator (TG) 21 for supplying atiming signal to the imaging device 20 and the A/D converter 30, aninput unit 40 for inputting a manipulation signal of a user, a memory 50for storing a program related to the operation of the digital camera,data required in executing the program, an image file, etc. and adisplay unit 60 for displaying an input image or an icon. Also, thedigital camera includes a digital signal processor (DSP) 100 forcontrolling each of the above elements of the digital camera accordingto image signal processing or the program.

Each of the elements according to the current embodiment of the presentinvention may be formed of a chip, or at least two of the elements maybe formed as a single chip.

Hereinafter, each of the elements of the digital camera will bedescribed in detail.

The optical unit 10 may include a lens for focusing an optical signal,an aperture for adjusting an amount of the optical signal (lightamount), a shutter for controlling an input of the optical signal, etc.The lens may include a zoom lens for adjusting a view of angle to benarrowed or widened or a focus lens for adjusting a focal point of asubject. Each of the lenses may comprise one sheet of lens or comprise agroup of lenses. The optical unit 10 may comprise a shutter. A mechanicshutter having a cover that moves upward or downward may be used as theshutter. Alternatively, the function of the shutter may be performed bycontrolling a supply of an electrical signal to the imaging device 20,instead of using a separate shutter device.

The optical driving unit 11 for driving the optical unit 10 may move theposition of the lens, open or close the aperture, or drive the shutterin order to perform auto-focusing, automatic exposure adjustment,zooming, focus changing, etc.

The imaging device 20 receives an optical signal transmitted through theoptical unit 10 to form an image of a subject. Examples of the imagingdevice 20 include a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)sensor array, a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor array, etc. Theimaging device 20 may provide image data corresponding to an image ofone frame according to a timing signal supplied from the TG 21.

The A/D converter 30 may generate image data of an image of one frame byconverting an analog signal transmitted from the imaging device 20 intoa digital signal. Alternatively, a circuit for performing adjustment ofa gain or typifying a waveform may be included in the digital camera.

The input unit 40 may include components for manipulating the digitalcamera or conducting various settings during a photographing operation.For example, the input unit 40 may include buttons, keys, a touch panel,a touch screen, a dial, etc., and user manipulation signals such as apower on/off, a photographing start/stop, a replay start/stop/search, anoperation of an optical system, mode conversion, menu manipulation,selection manipulation, etc., may be input through the input unit 40.

The memory 50 temporarily stores the image data or data required forcalculation. Examples of the memory 50 are a synchronous dynamic randomaccess memory (SDRAM), multi-chip package (MCP), or a dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM). Also, the memory 50 may store an operating system(OS), an application program, etc., which are needed to operate thedigital camera. To store the OS or the application program, anelectrically erasable programmable read only memory (E2PROM), a flashmemory, a read only memory (ROM), etc., may be included. Also, thememory 50 stores an image file including an image that is input to thedigital camera. To this end, a memory that is detachable from thedigital camera may be included in the digital camera. Examples of thedetachable memory include a secure digital card/multimedia (SDcard/MM),a hard disk drive (HDD), an optical disk, an optical magnetic disk, ahologram memory, etc.

The display unit 60 displays an image or an icon. For example, thedisplay unit 60 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic lightemitting display (OLED), a plasma display panel (PDP), or anelectrophorestic display (EDD).

The DSP 100 performs image signal processing on the image data, andcontrols each element according to image signal processing or accordingto a user's manipulation signal input through the input unit 40. Also,the DSP 100 may reduce noise with respect to input image data, and mayperform image signal processing for improving image quality, such asgamma correction, color filter array interpolation, color matrix, colorcorrection, color enhancement, etc. Also, the DSP 100 may compress theimage data generated by performing image signal processing thereon so asto improve the image quality thereof, thereby generating an image file,or may restore image data from the image file. The compression format ofthe image data may be a reversible format or an irreversible format.Examples of the appropriate format are a joint photographic expertsgroup (JPEG) format and a JPEG 2000 format. Also, the DSP 100 mayfunctionally perform obscuring, coloring, blurring, edge emphasis, imageinterpretation, image recognition, image effects, etc. In imagerecognition, face recognition may be performed. In addition, displayimage signal processing for displaying an image on the display unit 60may be performed. The DSP 100 may perform predetermined image signalprocessing so as to display image data regarding an external monitor,and transmit the image data processed in this manner so as to bedisplayed on the external monitor.

The DSP 100 includes a scene recognition unit 110 for recognizing ascene from an input image, a database 120 in which resolutions and imagequalities according to scenes are stored, a resolution and image qualitydetermining unit 130 for determining a resolution and an image qualitycorresponding to the recognized scene, based on the database 120, ascaler 140 for resizing the image according to a determined resolution,and a compression/restoring unit 150 for compressing or restoring theimage with a determined image quality. The scene recognition unit 110may recognize a scene of an input image by comparing color components,luminance, or the like, of the image data with information of previouslystored scenes. An image analyzed by the scene recognition unit 110 maybe an image of one frame input through the imaging device 20 and the A/Dconverter 30, or an image that is deduced by restoring an image filestored in the memory 50 through the compression/restoring unit 150.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a DSP 101 of the digital imagesignal processing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to another embodimentof the present invention. According to the current embodiment, a storagearea of the memory 50 is automatically sensed, and if the remainingstorage area is small, a resolution and an image quality of an image areadjusted according to a recognized scene of an image.

Referring to FIG. 2, the DSP 101 includes a measuring unit 105 formeasuring a storage area of the memory 50, a comparing unit 106 forcomparing the storage area of the memory 50 with predeterminedreferences that are designated previously, the resolution and imagequality determining unit 130 for determining a resolution and an imagequality of an image corresponding to the recognized scene if the storagearea of the memory 50 is smaller than the references, a scenerecognition unit 110 for recognizing a scene with respect to an inputimage, and a database 120 for containing resolutions and image qualitiesaccording to scenes. Also, the DSP 101 includes a scaler 140 forresizing the image data with a resolution determined by the resolutionand image quality determining unit 130, and a compression/restoring unit150 for compressing or restoring the image data with an image qualitythat is determined by the resolution and image quality determining unit130. The scaler 140 includes a plurality of scalers, here, first andsecond scalers 141 and 142 for resizing image data with various sizes.Also, the compression/restoring unit 150 includes a plurality ofcompression units, here, first and second compression units 151 and 152for compressing image data with different compression rates.

FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of the database 120 of the DSP 101illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, if an input image is recognized as anight view scene, a resolution of the input image may be 3648×2736, andan image quality thereof may be Super fine. If the input image isrecognized as a portrait scene, the resolution of the input image may be2048×1536, and an image quality thereof may be Fine. If the input imageis a frame guide scene, the resolution of the input image may be1024×768, and an image quality thereof may be Super fine. The database120 may be established by the user or the designer, or based on priorphotographing data. For example, when photographing a night view scene,data regarding resolutions and image qualities selected by the user isaccumulated according to prior photographing operations, and theaccumulated data may constitute a database based on frequencies of theresolutions and the image qualities. The database 120 as shown in FIG. 3may have a high resolution since a broad scene needs to be photographedwhen photographing a night view scene, compared to when photographing aportrait scene, and also, an image quality of the night view scene needsto be the same as or higher than when photographing a portrait scene.Thus, the image quality is set as Super fine. On the other hand, whenphotographing a portrait scene, a subject is smaller than whenphotographing a night view scene, and thus a resolution thereof may alsobe set smaller than that of the night view scene. In addition, the imagequality may be set according to scenes based on the intension of theuser or prior photographing data of the user.

The scaler 140 resizes an image according to resolutions included in thedatabase 120. For example, the first scaler 141 resizes an image to havea resolution of 3648×2736, and the second scaler 142 may resize an imageto have a resolution of 2048×1536. Also, the compression/restoring unit150 may compress an image with a compression rate included in thedatabase 120 according to image qualities. For example, the firstcompression unit 151 compresses an image with a compression rate havingan image quality of Super fine, and the second compression unit 152compresses an image with a compression rate having an image quality ofFine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a DSP 102 of the digital imagesignal processing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to another embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the DSP 102 includes the scene recognition unit 110for recognizing a scene with respect to an input image, the database 120in which resolutions and image qualities according to scenes of theinput image are stored, the resolution and image quality determiningunit 130 for determining a resolution and an image quality correspondingto a recognized scene, the scaler 140 for resizing the scene with adetermined resolution, and the compression/restoring unit 150 forcompressing or restoring the image with a determined image quality.Also, the DSP 102 includes a calculation unit 131 for calculating anumber of images, that is, how many images of the determined resolutionsand image qualities may be stored in the storage area of the memory 50,a determining unit 132 for checking the number of images to determinewhether to store the input image with the determined resolution andimage quality, and an adjusting unit 133 for adjusting the image suchthat, if it is determined to store the image, the image is resized andcompressed with the resolution and image quality determined by thescaler 140 and the compression/restoring unit 150, and if it isdetermined not to store the image, the resolution and image quality ofthe image are adjusted.

In detail, a first database 121 including priorities of resolutions andpriorities of image qualities according to scenes, and a second database122 including resolutions corresponding to the priorities of resolutionsand image qualities corresponding to the priorities of image qualitiesare stored in the database 120.

FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of the first database 121 of theDSP 102 of FIG. 4. In the first database 121, the priorities ofresolutions and the priorities of image qualities according to scenesare stored. For example, when photographing a night view scene, apriority of a resolution is stored as 1, and a priority of an imagequality is stored as 1, and when photographing a portrait scene, apriority of a resolution is stored as 4, and a priority of an imagequality is stored as 2. Also, when photographing a frame guide scene, apriority of a resolution is stored as 5, and a priority of an imagequality is stored as 1.

FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of the second database 122 of theDSP 102 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 6, resolutions and image qualities corresponding topriorities are stored in the second database 122. A resolution ofPriority 1 is 3648×2736, and a resolution of Priority 2 is 3072×2304, aresolution of Priority 3 is 2592×1944, a resolution of Priority 4 is2048×1536, and a resolution of Priority 5 is 1024×768. Resolutionscorresponding to priorities may be modified according to the setup ofthe user. Also, an image quality of Priority 1 is Super fine, that ofPriority 2 is Fine, and that of Priority 3 is Normal, and the imagequalities are stored in the second database 122.

Referring to FIG. 4 again, scene recognition is performed on an imageinput to the scene recognition unit 110, and a priority of resolutionsand a priority of image qualities corresponding to the recognized sceneare deduced from the first data base 121. Then, a resolutioncorresponding to the priority of the resolutions and an image qualitycorresponding to the priority of image qualities are deduced from thesecond database 122.

When resizing and compressing the image with the resolution and theimage quality deduced from the second database 122, the calculation unit131 calculates how many images may be stored in the storage area of thememory 50 of FIG. 1. A calculation result of the calculation unit 131may be displayed on the display unit 60. The user checks a calculationresult displayed on the display unit 60 to determine whether to applythe resolution and the image quality deduced from the second database122. The determining unit 132 may determine whether to apply theresolution and the image quality that are deduced according to thedetermination result of the user. Also, the determining unit 132 maydetermine whether to apply the deduced resolution and the deduced imagequality by using an automatic control system. If the determinationresult of the determining unit 132 does not satisfy the calculationresult, that is, if the resolution and the image quality are not to beapplied, the adjusting unit 133 may adjust the priority of at least oneof the group consisting of the resolution and the image quality to anext priority. For example, when applying the resolution and the imagequality resulting from the calculation, and five images may be stored inthe remaining storage area of the memory 50, the user may store moreimages. Here, the priority of the resolution may be adjusted to a nextpriority, or the priority of the image quality may be adjusted to a nextpriority by using the adjusting unit 133. The resolution and imagequality determining unit 130 determines a resolution and an imagequality corresponding to the priority of the resolution and the priorityof the image quality adjusted by the adjusting unit 133, and whether toapply the resolution and the image quality may be determined based onthe resolution and the image quality by using the calculation unit 131and the determining unit 132. When applying the resolution and the imagequality, the image may be resized with the resolution which is appliedby the scaler 140 and compressed with the image quality which is appliedby the compressing/restoring unit 150.

A digital image signal processing method according to an embodiment ofthe present invention is described in detail below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a digital image signal processingmethod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in operation S11, an image is generated, and inoperation S12, a scene is recognized from the image. The image may begenerated as an image of one frame input from an imaging device, or maybe an image obtained by restoring an image file recorded to a memory.Color components, brightness information, etc., according to scenes maybe compared with the scene of the image to thus recognize the scene.

In operation S13, a resolution and an image quality corresponding to therecognized scene are deduced. Resolutions and image qualities accordingto scenes are stored in a database in advance, and the resolution andthe image quality corresponding to the recognized scene may be deducedfrom the database.

In operation S14, the image is resized with the deduced resolution andcompressed with the deduced image quality and stored.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a digital image signal processingmethod according to another embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 8, an available storage area of the memory is measuredby an input of a user or automatically, in operation S21.

In operation S21, whether the measured storage area is smaller than apredetermined reference is determined.

If the measured storage area is larger than the reference, in operationS21, an input image is compressed and stored in operation S23. Accordingto the current embodiment, the storage area of the memory is determinedin comparison to the predetermined reference, but the present inventionis not limited thereto. The measured storage area of the memory isinformed to the user by, for example, displaying a graph correspondingto a size of the measured storage area of the memory on a display, and aresolution or an image quality according to the recognized scene of animage according to a manipulation signal of a user may be applied to theimage or a predetermined resolution and a predetermined image qualitymay be applied to the image.

Otherwise, if the measured storage area is smaller than the reference,in operation S21, a scene of the input image is recognized in operationS24. In operation S25, a resolution and an image quality correspondingto the recognized scene are deduced. A resolution and an image qualitycorresponding to the recognized scene of the image may be deduced fromthe database including resolutions and image qualities according toscenes, as described above with reference to FIG. 7.

In operation S26, the image is resized with the deduced resolution andcompressed with the deduced image quality and stored.

According to the current embodiment of the present invention, thestorage area of the memory is measured, and if the storage area isinsufficient, a resolution and an image quality that are appropriate forthe scene of the image are applied to the image, thereby efficientlyusing the remaining storage area of the memory. That is, the user canobtain images having desired resolution and image quality according tothe scene and store as many images as possible.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a digital image signal processingmethod according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in operation S31, an image is generated. Inoperation S32, scene recognition is performed on the image.

In operation S33, a priority of a resolution and a priority of an imagequality corresponding to the recognized scene are deduced. In operationS34, a resolution corresponding to the priority of the resolution and animage quality corresponding to the priority of the image quality arededuced.

Next, in operation S35, it is calculated how many images can be storedin a storage area of the memory if the image is resized with theresolution and compressed with the image quality. That is, an availablenumber of images that can be stored in the storage area of the memory iscalculated.

In operation S36, the number of images is displayed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an example of displaying a storagecapacity (number) of a memory of the digital image signal processingmethod of FIG. 9. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the availablenumber of images that can be stored in the storage area of the memorymay be displayed on a rear LCD of a digital camera 1 under the title“current memory”. Here, it is displayed on the rear LCD that an emptyspace in the total memory is 36% and that fives images with a resolutionof 3648×2736 and an image quality Super fine may be stored. Also, apriority adjustment icon and an OK icon are displayed at a lower part ofthe rear LCD.

In addition, a shutter release button 2 for inputting a photographingsignal and a power button 3 for turning on/off the digital camera 1 areincluded on an upper surface of the digital camera 1. Also, an opticalor digital zoom button 4 and functional buttons 5 for performing modeconversion, menu manipulation, selection manipulation, or the like areincluded on a rear surface of the digital camera 1.

Referring to FIG. 9 again, in operation S37, whether the image is to bestored is determined, and in operation S38, if it is determined inoperation S37 that the image is to be stored according to a manipulationsignal of a user, the image is resized with a determined resolution andcompressed with a determined image quality to be stored. For example,when the user checks the display screen and determines to store theimage, the OK icon of FIG. 10 may be activated. Accordingly, the imagemay be stored with the determined resolution and the determined imagequality.

Alternatively, when more than five images are to be captured, at leastone of the group consisting of the priority of the determined resolutionand the priority of the determined image quality is adjusted inoperation S39. In operation S34, a resolution and an image qualitycorresponding to the adjusted priority are deduced, and in operationS35, an available number of images to be stored in the storage area of amemory according to the adjusted resolution and the image quality iscalculated. Next, in operation S36, the amount is displayed.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another example of displaying a storagecapacity (number) of a memory of the digital image signal processingmethod of FIG. 9. For example, referring to FIG. 11, a number of imagesthat can be stored according to a priority of image quality, which is anext priority of image quality, is calculated and a result of thecalculation may be displayed. If the resolution is the same, an image ofan image quality Super fine is 3.88 MB, an image of an image qualityFine is 2.15 MB, and an image of an image quality Normal quality is 1.57MB. Based on these amounts, when the image quality is adjusted fromSuper fine to Fine, the number of images that can be additionally storedincreases to 9.

In operation S35, the user checks the calculation result, and determineswhether to store the image by applying a resolution and an image qualitythat are determined by the adjustment, and if the user determines thatthe image is to be stored in operation S37, the image is resized andcompressed with the determined resolution and image quality,respectively, in operation S38. Otherwise, if the user determines thatthe image is not to be stored in operation S37, the priority of theresolution or the priority of the image quality is adjusted again inoperation S39.

According to the current embodiment of the present invention, imageswith appropriate resolutions and image qualities according to scenes canbe obtained and a space of a memory can be efficiently used, and theuser may capture as many images as wanted.

The invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on acomputer readable recording medium. The computer readable recordingmedium is any data storage device that can store data which can bethereafter read by a computer system.

Examples of the computer readable recording medium include read-onlymemory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes,floppy disks, optical data storage devices, etc. Also, the computerreadable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupledcomputer systems so that the computer readable code is stored andexecuted in a distributed fashion. Also, functional programs, code, andcode segments for accomplishing the present invention can be easilyconstrued by programmers of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference has been made to the preferred embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used todescribe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of theinvention is intended by this specific language, and the inventionshould be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normallyoccur to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The present invention may be described in terms of functional blockcomponents and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may berealized by any number of hardware and/or software components configuredto perform the specified functions. For example, the present inventionmay employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements,processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, whichmay carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, where the elementsof the present invention are implemented using software programming orsoftware elements the invention may be implemented with any programmingor scripting language such as C, C++, Java, assembler, or the like, withthe various algorithms being implemented with any combination of datastructures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements.Functional aspects may be implemented in algorithms that execute on oneor more processors. Furthermore, the present invention could employ anynumber of conventional techniques for electronics configuration, signalprocessing and/or control, data processing and the like. The words“mechanism” and “element” are used broadly and are not limited tomechanical or physical embodiments, but can include software routines inconjunction with processors, etc.

The particular implementations shown and described herein areillustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwiselimit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity,conventional electronics, control systems, software development andother functional aspects of the systems (and components of theindividual operating components of the systems) may not be described indetail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in thevarious figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functionalrelationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the variouselements. It should be noted that many alternative or additionalfunctional relationships, physical connections or logical connectionsmay be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component isessential to the practice of the invention unless the element isspecifically described as “essential” or “critical”.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merelyintended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually toeach separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicatedherein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specificationas if it were individually recited herein. Finally, the steps of allmethods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed.

Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

1. A digital image signal processing method comprising: recognizing,with a processor, a scene of an image; determining, with the processor,a resolution and an image quality corresponding to the recognized scene;and compressing the image with the determined resolution and thedetermined image quality.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:measuring a storage area of a memory; and comparing the storage area ofthe memory with a reference, wherein, if the storage area of the memoryis smaller than the reference, a resolution and an image qualitycorresponding to the recognized scene are determined.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the image is obtained by restoring an image file storedin the memory.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is an imageinput to an imaging device according to a photographing signal.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising generating a database includingresolutions and image qualities according to scenes.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the database is generated according to an input of auser.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a resolution andan image quality corresponding to the recognized scene comprises:deducing a priority of the resolution and a priority of the imagequality corresponding to the recognized scene; and determining aresolution and an image quality corresponding to the deduced priority ofthe resolution and the deduced priority of the image quality.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising, if compressing the image with thedetermined resolution and the determined image quality: calculating anavailable number of images that can be stored in the storage area of thememory; and displaying the available number of images.
 9. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising, if compressing the image with thedetermined resolution and the determined image quality: calculating anavailable number of images that can be stored in the storage area of thememory in which the images can be stored; displaying the availablenumber of images; determining whether to compress the image; if theimage is not to be compressed, adjusting at least one of the groupconsisting of the priority of the resolution and the priority of theimage quality to a next priority; and deducing a resolution and an imagequality corresponding to the adjusted priority of the resolution or theimage quality.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene is oneselected from the group consisting of a frame guide scene, a night viewscene, a portrait scene, a landscape scene, a macro scene, and a whitescene.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein a resolution of the landscapescene is greater than a resolution of the portrait scene.
 12. A computerreadable recording medium having embodied thereon a program forexecuting, with a processor, a method comprising: recognizing, with aprocessor, a scene of an image; determining, with the processor, aresolution and an image quality corresponding to the recognized scene;and compressing the image with the determined resolution and thedetermined image quality.
 13. A digital image signal processingapparatus comprising: a scene recognition unit for recognizing a sceneof an image; a database including resolutions and image qualitiesaccording to scenes; a resolution and image quality determining unit fordetermining a resolution and an image quality corresponding to therecognized scene by deduction from the database; a scaler for resizingthe image to have the determined resolution; and a compression unit forcompressing the image to have the determined image quality.
 14. Thedigital image signal processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein thescaler comprises a plurality of scalers for resizing the image withdifferent sizes, and the compressing unit comprises a plurality ofcompression units that apply different compression rates to the image soas to have different image qualities.
 15. The digital image signalprocessing apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a memory forstoring an image file including the image; a measuring unit formeasuring a storage area of the memory; a comparing unit for comparingthe storage area of the memory with a reference; and a control unit forcontrolling such that if the storage area of the memory is smaller thanthe reference, the resolution and image quality determining unitdetermines a resolution and an image quality of the image.
 16. Thedigital image signal processing apparatus of claim 13, furthercomprising: a memory for storing an image file including the image; anda restoring unit for restoring the image file to deduce the image. 17.The digital image signal processing apparatus of claim 13, furthercomprising an imaging device for inputting the image.
 18. The digitalimage signal processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the databasecomprises: a first database including priorities of resolutions andimage qualities according to scenes; and a second database includingresolutions corresponding to the priorities of the resolutions and imagequalities corresponding to priorities of the image qualities; andwherein: the resolution and image quality determining unit deduces: fromthe first database, the priorities of the resolutions and the prioritiesof the image qualities according to scenes; and from the seconddatabase, the resolutions according to the priorities of the resolutionsand the image qualities according to the priorities of the imagequalities.
 19. The digital image signal processing apparatus of claim18, further comprising, when compressing the image with the determinedresolution and the determined image quality: a calculation unit thatcalculates an available number of images that can be stored in aremaining storage area of a memory; a display unit that displays theavailable number of images; a determining unit that determines whetherto compress the image; and an adjusting unit that adjusts at least oneof the group consisting of the priority of the resolution and thepriority of the image quality to a next background priority, if theimage is not to be compressed, wherein the resolution and image qualitydetermining unit deduces a resolution and an image quality correspondingto the adjusted priority of the resolution or the image quality.
 20. Thedigital image signal processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein thedatabase comprises a resolution of a landscape scene that is greaterthan a resolution of a portrait scene.